WE SAY: At a time when many running shoes are being built lighter and more flexible, the Sequence strides defiantly in the other direction. This update has a large stability unit in the heel and a redesigned medial post that work together to gently correct overpronation. According to our lab tests, the shoe is noticeably stiffer and almost an ounce heavier than the previous version. Several testers actually preferred the shoe's stiff ride. Recommended as an everyday trainer for overpronators.

WE SAY: The Ravenna has a fast feel that belies the amount of corrective support it provides. Credit the shoe's winning combination of a nimble, low-to-the-ground profile and ample cushioning for heel-and midfoot-strikers. Even more impressive is how Brooks now scales the flexibility of this shoe according to gender and size—making the smaller sizes less rigid in the forefoot than larger ones. If you're looking for a single shoe for both marathon training and racing, this is it.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"It had a fast feel and a great fit. My only complaint was that the forefoot was a bit stiff."—Matthew Hartzell, 30, Allentown

"The elastic band in the laces snugged up my arch without squeezing it tight."—Eamon Kuklok, 31, San Diego

WE SAY: The Strong's aggressive profile props the heel much higher off the ground than the forefoot. This design quickly shifts a runner's weight to the forefoot, causing a sensation of being propelled forward. The update also has a wedge (the fulcrum in the shoe's name) under the arch, and a rounded heel that help the foot transition from heel-strike to toe-off. Most testers found the Strong's distinctive ride a bit awkward. Recommended as a durable trainer for heavy heel-strikers.

WE SAY: For mild to moderate overpronators, the California supplies stability with noticeable comfort. It boasts a substantial medial post and plenty of cushioning that stands up under heavy mileage. It also has a smooth roll-through that's appropriate for tempo efforts. Testers loved the shoe for pavement pounding, but several complained about the collar fit, suggesting it was too snug. Recommended as an everyday trainer for overpronators.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY: "I thought the overall fit was good, but the back of the shoe rubbed my ankle."—Thomas Rogers, 30, Allentown

"I liked the cushioning the most. The shoe fit comfortably through the toebox and was snug in the heel."—Jacqueline Henchy, 38, Allentown

WE SAY: This no-nonsense trainer offers a reliable ride suitable for moderate distances and modest paces. Its rounded heel allows for a clunk-free footstrike, and the light medial posting and small plastic midfoot shank provide enough stability for mild overpronators. Our lab tests show that the cushioning doesn't have much bounce to it, resulting in a dead feeling underfoot. Several testers noted that the Supreme felt flat. Recommended as a durable trainer for runners who need a touch of support.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY"The shoe had a great feel and a nice wide toebox."—Koko Cattran, 56, San Diego

"I liked the flexible ride, but there wasn't much support in the arch."—Stephen Kazmierczak, 30, AllentownNEUTRAL CUSHIONED

WE SAY: This middle-of-the-road trainer features a heel design that directs the foot forward after it initially lands. Unfortunately, according to our lab tests, this design makes the heel among the firmest in this guide. And the forefoot is one of the softest. The result is an awkward transition from heel to toe that some testers didn't like. Recommended for big heel-strikers who need cushioning that stands up to and mitigates heavy impact.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"As the name implies, it's well cushioned but not so much that it's heavy or mushy."—Patrick Gadola, 46, East Lansing

"I felt it did a good job absorbing impact with the road."—Ian Quartermus, 25, East Lansing

WE SAY: With its exposed Gel units in the heel attached to a plastic support cradle, the Kinetic is tailor-made for heel-strikers. According to lab tests, the Kinetic's durable cushioning holds up to the heavy footfalls of larger runners, but the trade-off in this design is a lot of weight (it's the heaviest shoe in the guide). Asics dialed in the already outstanding fit of this shoe with a nested collar, which cinches down for a snug fit that moves with the foot. Recommended as a durable trainer.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"I loved the fit, but was disappointed in the ride—like riding on an underinflated tire."—Frank Davis, 42, Allentown

"The shoe fit my foot well all around, but the heel felt clunky."—Shawn Calabrese, 28, East Lansing

WE SAY: The Nimbus is the down comforter of running shoes. It wraps soft, pliable cushioning around your foot, creating an ultracozy interior. Underneath lies oodles of spongy foam and Gel for superb impact protection. This update is a tad lighter than the previous version, though it's still a bit thick and stiff according to our lab tests. Testers raved about the fit, which benefits from a pressure-free lacing pattern that follows the actual topline of the foot. Recommended for runners looking for a touch of stability in a cushy environment.

WE SAY: Offering a plush feel without a plush price tag, the Pulse is a versatile trainer for both heel-and midfoot-strikers. While adding an extra layer of foam padding to the forefoot of this update, Asics also leveled out the shoe's profile. The resulting ride felt like pushing off a pillow to some of our testers at first, though most of them gave the Pulse a thumbs-up after they got used to it. Recommended for runners with minimal stability needs looking for a comfortable ride on long runs.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"A good all-around running shoe with a great balance of support, stability, and weight."—Kevin Sayers, 37, East Lansing

"It was an excellent shoe overall, but the heel cushioning could be improved."—Lori Schmoyer, 55, Allentown

WE SAY: The 880 delivers terrific comfort for the price. It has just the right cushioning—firm enough to protect your legs on long runs and soft enough to be comfortable. New Balance tinkered with the outsole a bit with this update (it previously was the 759), adding more blown rubber to the forefoot and a small shank to keep the foot in contact with the ground longer. Both changes yield a balanced, resilient ride, according to Shoe Lab tests and tester feedback. Recommended as a durable trainer for intermediate to advanced runners.

WE SAY: This bold debut supplies a lot of oomph per ounce, thanks to a feather-light foam compound in the midsole. RW Shoe Lab tests show that it has a great combination of cushioning and flexibility that many of our testers said was ideal for high-mileage workouts and moderate paces. Our speedier testers found the heel a bit too high for track work. Its minimal design eschews the heavy overlays and structure to keep your foot locked in place. Recommended as a go-to marathon-training shoe.

WE SAY: The Ventis is a well-cushioned shoe that has too much junk in the trunk. The extra-wide heel caused several of our testers to note that they couldn't feel the road in the Ventis. Though they weren't fans of the bulky sole, testers loved the shoe's overall fit and snug arch wrap, and several mentioned the roomy forefoot that bends up slightly at the tip for an easy toe-off. Recommended for low-arched runners who don't mind the extra baggage.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"The shoes were comfortable, but they felt heavy and unbalanced, especially on longer runs."—Joy Sargis, 50, San Diego

"It was supercomfortable, but the profile of the heel was too wide."—James Robinson, 56, East Lansing

WE SAY: This new take on Reebok's flashy, accordionlike Zig shoe is both flatter and curvier in the sole. The idea behind packing down the Zig waves is to open more holes in the midsole foam that can absorb impact. The foot sits on a thick sockliner in the ZigFly, so step-in comfort is good, despite the firm plastic plate on top of the wavy sole. Unfortunately, our testers found the shoe to be firm and rigid, and our Shoe Lab results back up their findings. Recommended as a short-mileage shoe for off days.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"It wasn't an everyday shoe, more of a cross-trainer."—Christin Adams, 28, Allentown

"Very comfortable, but I felt the heel was slightly higher than I would prefer."—Jake Flynn, 28, East Lansing

WE SAY: With the Runaissance you can modify the ride to make it more ideal for you. The shoe comes with interchangeable parts—footbeds, cushion plugs, and varus wedge inserts—made to help align the foot and lower leg just so. Despite the Runaissance's configurability, it's still stiff underfoot, according to RW Shoe Lab tests. The shoe is definitely worth a look for runners interested in trying different fit configurations to dial in the ride exactly to their liking.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"I was able to get my preferred arch height and cushioning, but wished the shoe was more breathable and flexible."—Brian Hendricks, 38, Allentown

"I liked how the inserts changed the fit."—Bonnie Wilson, 66, East Lansing

WE SAY: This zippy new shoe moves extremely well with the foot. The springy cushioning makes for a fast and light feel that's moderately supportive without being too beefy. Testers raved about the Kwicky's responsive, cushy ride and excellent arch wrap, but some complained that the outsole tended to trap small rocks in its grooves. Recommended as a versatile distance shoe for efficient runners or as a supportive racer for the rest of us.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"It allowed me to feel the road but was cushioned enough to make it feel good."—Erik Daly, 35, Allentown

"I liked the flexibility in the forefoot. It also provided good ventilation."—Betsy Daly, 34, Allentown

WE SAY: With a stripped-down design, the lightweight Minimus Road boasts a snug fit, firm cushioning, and a thin sole (just 19.2 millimeters in the heel and 13.8 in the forefoot). The heel is only 5.4 millimeters higher than the forefoot (with most shoes, it's 12 to 14 millimeters), which encourages midfoot striking. Some testers found the forefoot hemmed in their toes a little. We recommend it as a speedwork shoe to use when doing strides, or as a foot-strengthening tool when walking.

WE SAYThe agile and responsive Streak is race-ready with a low-to-the-ground feel and a tight fit. Don't expect much impact protection in this shoe. With a lower profile than everyday trainers, a thin, airy build, and very little outsole tread, it provides only what you need to go fast and nothing more. Most testers found the forefoot to be uncomfortably thin, but a few actually liked the shoe for this reason. We recommend runners not used to racing flats ease the Streak into their training slowly.

"There wasn't much in terms of stability or support, which I felt was appropriate for a shoe like this."—Peter Vigneron, 26, Allentown

Q+AWarren Greene and Martyn Shorten, Ph.D., solve your shoe conundrumsQ: How can I tell if I need to add an insole to my running shoes?—VICTOR BIGGS, San DiegoA: If you have a fit, comfort, or cushioning problem, an insole (or footbeds) will help. Many people, especially those with flat feet, find that contoured insoles support their arches and enhance comfort. Insoles generally are not the solution to chronic injury problems, however. These usually call for custom orthotics that are prescribed by a podiatrist or orthotist.

WE SAY: The uncomplicated styling of the Faas harkens back to the running shoes of 30 years ago. As with those models, the Faas has a simple design—just an upper of mesh and synthetic suede anchoring the foot to a slab of foam cushioning. There's no supportive structure above or below the foot. The outsole does have a banana shape to it, resulting in a rockerlike ride that many testers enjoyed. A few noted that their feet overheated in the suede upper. We recommend the Faas as a casual trainer for efficient runners.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"They had good arch support, but ran a little narrow."—Cristina Bustos Oliver, 31, San Diego

"I liked the low weight and flexibility, though they weren't breathable."—Karen Louise Fawcett, 38, San Diego

WE SAY: There's a complete absence of clunk in the Kinvara—just enough material in the shoe to hold down and cushion the foot. The minimal profile (28 millimeters in the heel and 21 in the forefoot) complements a midfoot-strike and keeps the foot in contact with the ground as long as possible. Saucony did little to this update, preferring not to mess with the formula. Recommended for efficient runners who want to ease barefootlike training into their routine.

WEAR-TESTERS SAY:"This is one of those shoes that I love putting on because they are so comfortable."—Andrew Izzo, 23, East Lansing

"It was supportive without bulk and flexible without feeling flimsy."—Susan McCaffrey, 50, East Lansing

WE SAY: The Hattori isn't a running shoe for most people. Weighing less than a third of the weight of the Asics Gel-Kinetic 4, this is an extremely light, slipperlike trainer for efficient runners to use as a cooldown shoe or for speedwork drills on grass. It puts only 13 millimeters of material between your feet and the ground. RW Shoe Lab tests show it has more cushioning than the Vibram FiveFingers Bikila but not as much durability. Note: The Hattori runs small, so you may need to go up in size.